Closure



ULSUINIE @mm July ma INVENTCH ATTORNEY Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,720,358 PATENT oFFvlcE.

CHARLES H. BELLOF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE EATON AXLE l SPRING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

cLosUnn Application lerl July 19,

This invention relates to improvements in closures, such as are used for closing the openings of radiators and `fuel tanks of automobiles, etc. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in closures of the bayonet joint type.

The general object of the present invention is the provision of a closure of the type described which is of Simple and inexpensive construction and highly efficient in use.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a closure embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a crossfsectional view thereof on the line 2 2, Fig. 4; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View of the closure detachably connected to a tubular neck surrounding the opening to be' closed, the section through the closure being on the line 3 3, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the closure; Fig. is a top plan View of the neck shown in Fig. 3; Fig.,6 is a vertical sectional view thereof' on the line 6 6, Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a portion of a modified form of closure; and Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on the line 8 8, Fig. 7.

In the present embodiment of the invention, 1 represents an automobile radiator, fuel tank or other object having an opening 2 to be closed, which opening is surrounded by a tubular neck to which the closure is adapted to be detachably secured by a bayonet joint connection. Said neck includes a cylindrical body portion 3 which may be an integral part of memberl 1 or separate therefrom and suitably secured thereto, the latter arrangement being here shown with the body portion provided with anl outwardly extending, annular base flange 4 for welding. or other suitable securement to member 1.

At the upper end' of the neck body portion 3 is an inwardly extending annular flange 5 which terminates in a depending flange (i. At two diametrically opposed points, parts of flanges 5 and 6 are cut away to provide two passage-ways 7 for the locking fingers of the closure, as will later appear. The cutting away of said flange parts provides two depending flange portions 6 of substan tially semi-circular form and the two lower" edges of these flange portions are inclined to provide two cam surfaces 8 with which the closure locking fingers are adapted to 1928.. Serial No. 293,850.

cooperate in effecting a detachable locking connection of the closure to the neck. Preferably, a recess or dwell 9 is `provided at the i rear end of each cam surface to receive a closure locking finger, and adjacent each dwell each flange portion 6 lis provided with a depending projection 10 to form stops for the closure locking fingers and thus limit rotary movement thereof relative to the neck, all as wilLappear hereinafter.

The closure of the present application includes a one-piece body member having a central dome portion 15 of non-circular shape, such as hexagonal, a marginal portion 16 of annular shape and a depending skirt portion 17 of cylindrical shape, said skirt portion being preferably but slightly larger in diameter than that of the neck body portion 3 with which it is adapted for telescopic relation. Slidably but non-rotatably arranged in the recess 18 formed by the dome portion 15 is the upper end' portion of a locking member which is provided at its lower end with two diametrically opposed fingers adapted for locking engagement with the cam surfaces 8 of the neck.

The locking member here shown is of inverted, substantially cup shape and includes a hexagonal top portion 20 and a side wall portion 21 which is provided at its lower end with two depending diametrically opposed finger portions 22 which terminate in outwardly extending cam engaging portions 23. In crossdimension, the upper end portion of the lockingxmember corresponds in size and shape with the recess 18. In other words, the upper end portion of the locking member is free to slide vertically in recess 18 but cannot turn therein due to the non-circular shape of the recess and said locking member portion. In the present em-y bodiment of the invention, this recess and locking member portion are of hexagonal shape, but obviously, they coulddbe of any` 425 having its upper and lower ends bent outwardly in the form of annular flanges 26 and 27 respectively, which prevent complete disassembly of the body and locking members.

Mounted u on the lower flange 27 of this connecting tu le is a coiled spring 30 having its upper end engaging the top portion of the locking member and normally maintaining saidtop portion in engagement with the top wall of t edome portion 15 of the body member, as clearly shown in Fig.I 2.

The closure is detachably secured to the neck by passing the locking finger portions 23 down through the passa-geways 7 of the neck and then imparting clockwise rotary movement to the closure so as to cause said linger portions to ride up the cam surfaces 8 until they reach the dwells 9, further rotary movement of said finger portions being prevented bythe stop projections 10. The movement of said finger portions up along said cam surfaces causes the locking member to be lpulled downwardly against the tension of the spring 30 so that said finger portions engage the cam surfaces with yielding effect and there is thus prevented lundue wear of the gasket 32 with which the closure is usually provided, said gasket being interposed between the top flange 5 of the neck and the marginal portion 16 of the closure body member. The cam surfaces 8 of the neck, are of course, of such pitch or the recess 18 is of such depth that the upper end portion of the locking member does not leave the recess`18 of the body member during connection of the closure to the neck so that there is no liabilit Y of undue separation of the closure body an locking members which would permit relative rotary lto movement therebetween.

To remove the closure from the neck, 1t 1s only necessary to turn the closure 1n a counter-clockwise direction which causes the finger portions thereof to leave the dwells 9 and ride down the cam surfaces 8 until they reach the ypassageways 7, whereupon the closure can be readily lifted from theneck.

Due to the tubular construction of the connecting member 25, an ample air passage 35 is provided therethrough for venting to the atmosphere the interior of the neck andhence the interior of member 1 when the closure is said connected to the neck, sothat the closure need not be provided with other openings for such purpose. Preferabl the lower end of the skirt portion 17 of t e Iclosure body' member is bent inwardly beneath the gasket 32 so that gasket is always maintalned against the mar mal ortion 16 thereof, as clearly indicated in lig. 3. 4 v

In the modification shown in Figs..7 and 8,

the connecting member for the body and locking members of the closure is in the form of a cotter pin 36. The eye 37 of said :pin at the lower end thereof not only serves as an eliicient abutment for theV lower end of spring 3 0 'wall of the dome portion 15 of the closure body member, an annular bead 39 being here shown. The two legs of the cotter pin are, of course, separated a suiicient amount to permit the interior of the neck and the interior of the member 1 to be freely vented to the atmosphere, as will be readily understood, or space is provided around said legs for venting purposes.

I claiml. A closure for tubular necks havin" posed ri id cam portions, comprising atbody member aving a non-circular recess, a locking member having a non-circular portion fitting said recess and movable vertically there- 'in without rotation, said locking member being also provided with opposed rigid locking portions adapted tobe movedalong the cam portions of' a neck to effect detachable connection of the closure to said neck, said locking member moving downwardly relative to said body member during such movement -along said cam portions, and yielding means effective upon both said body and locking members and normally resisting downward movement of said locking melnber relative to said body member, whereby the locking portions ot said locking member engage said cam portions witlr yielding effect.

2. A closure for tubular necks having opposed rigid cam portions, comprising a body member having a non-circular recess, a locking member having a non-circular portion fitting said recess and movable vertically therein without rotation, said locking member being also provided with opposed rigid locking portions adapted to be moved along the cam portions of a neck to effect detachable connection of the closure to said neck, said locking member lmoving downwardly relative to said body portion during such movement along said cam portions, said body member being provided with an abutment spaced therefrom, and yielding means effective upon said locking member and said body member abutment and normally resisting downward movement of said locking member relative to said body member, whereby the locking portions of said locking member engage said cam portions with yielding effect.

3. A closure for tubular necks having opposed rigid cam portions, comprisinrr a body member having a non-circular reces. a lockinglmeinber having a non-circular portion fitting said recess and movable vertically therein without rotation, said locking member being also provided with opposed rigid locking portions adapted to be moved along the cam portions of a neck to eifectdetachable connection of the closure to said neck, said locking member moving downwardly relative to said body member during such movement along said cam portions, said body member being provided with an abutment spaced therefrom and the non-circular portion of said locking member being arranged between 'said body member and the abutment thereof and yielding means effective -upon both said body and locking members and normally resisting downward movement of said locking member relative to said body member, whereby the locking portions of said locking member engage saidcam portions with yielding effect.

4. A closure forA tubular necks having opposed ri id cam portions, comprising a body memberlliaving a non-circular recess, a locking member having a non-circular, portion t- `ting said recess and movable vertically there- .in without rotation, said-locking member being also provided with opposed rigid locking portions adapted to be moved along the cam portions ofa neck to effect detachable connection of the closure to said neck, said locking member moving downwardly relative to said body member during such movement along said cam portions, said body member being provided with a depending part having an abutment' at its lower end, and yielding means effective upon said locking member and said abutment and normall resisting downward movement of said locking member relative to said body member, whereby the locking portions of said lockingmember engage said cam portions with yielding effect.

5. A closure for tubular necks having o posed rigid cam portions, comprising a bo y member having a non-circular recess, a locking member having a non-circular portion l'itting said recess and movable vertically therein without rotation, said locking member being also provided with opposed ri id locking portions adapted to be moved a ong the cam portions of a neck to effect detachable connection ofthe closure to said neck, said locking member moving downwardly relative to said body member during such movement along said cam portions, said body member' beine provided with a depending'part having an abutment at its `lower end, and yielding means .effective upon said locking member and said abutment'and normally resisting downwardv movement of said locking member relative to said body member, wherebv the locking portions of said locking member engage said cam portions with yielding elect,

said depending part being provided with an .air passage to vent to the outside atmosphere the interior of the neck when a closure is connected thereto.

6. A closure for tubular necks having opposed rigid cam portions, comprising atbody member having` -a non-circular recess, a locking member having a non-circular portion fitting said recess and movable vertically therein without rotation, said locking memi ber being 'also provided with opposed rigid lockingportions adapted to be moved along the cam portions of a neck to elect detachable connection of the closure to said neck, said locking member moving downwardly relative to said body member during such movement along said cam portions, said bod member being provided with a tubular epending part having an abutment at its lower end, and yielding means. effective upon said locking member and said abutment and normally resisting downward movement of said locking member relative to said body member, whereby the locking portions di said locking member engage said cam portions with yieldingeffect, `the tubular character of said depending part venting to the outside atmosphere the interior of the neck when a closure is ,connected thereto.

7. A yclosure for tubular necks havin opposed rigid cam portions, comprising aody member having a non-circular recess, a lock-` lrelative to said neck during such movement along said cam portions, said body member being provided with a depending part extending into said recess and having an abutment at its lower end, and yielding "means effective upon said locking member and said abutment and normally resisting downward ymovement of said locking member relative to said body member, whereby the locking portions of said locking member engage said cam portions with yielding elitect.

8. A closure for tubular necks having o posed rigid cam portions, comprising a bo y member having a non-circular recess and abutments above and below the same, a locklng member having a non-circular portion fitting said recess and movable vertically therein .without rotation between said abutments, said locking -member being also provided with opposed rigid locking portions adapted to be moved along the cam portions of a neck to effect detachableconnection of the closure to said neck, said locking member moving downwardly toward said lower abutment curing connection of the closure to the neck, and yieldingmeans effective upon said lookin" member and said lower abutment and norma ly resisting such downward movement ofysaid locking memberl whereby the lockin portions of said locking member engage sai cam portions with yielding effect.

signature.

CHARLES ri. BELL. 

